Stephens, Robert (c. 1643-1719), Messenger of the Press

Zone d'identification

Type d'entité

Personne

Forme autorisée du nom

Stephens, Robert (c. 1643-1719), Messenger of the Press

forme(s) parallèle(s) du nom

    Forme(s) du nom normalisée(s) selon d'autres conventions

      Autre(s) forme(s) du nom

      • Stevens; Steevens

      Numéro d'immatriculation des collectivités

      Zone de description

      Dates d’existence

      c. 1643-1719

      Historique

      Stephens was apprenticed to London Stationer and printer Thomas Ratcliffe on 5 April 1658. He completed his apprenticeship in 1666 and worked briefly as a journeyman printer. Stephens was elected to the Livery of the Stationers’ Company in 1682 to general outrage, in a move by the Stationers’ Company to manipulate Lord Mayor elections. He rose to notoriety as a 'Messenger of the Press', simultaneously serving the office of Secretary of State and enforcing the rights of the Stationers' Company to search and seizure. Midnight raids upon the premises of his colleagues, earned him the nickname of 'Robin Hog'. Stephens was known for his corruption, violence, and taking bribes. Stephens also served the Company as an all-round handyman. He was performing search and seizure duties from 1677, and first appeared with the title of Messenger in 1679. He was active as Messenger of the Press between 1679 and 1684, and again between 1689 and 1712.

      Lieux

      Statut légal

      Fonctions et activités

      Messenger of the Press (1679-1684, 1689-1712)

      Textes de référence

      Organisation interne/Généalogie

      Elizabeth Framewell (daughter); Sarah Stephens (daughter)

      Contexte général

      Zone des relations

      Zone des points d'accès

      Mots-clés - Sujets

      Mots-clés - Lieux

      Occupations

      Zone du contrôle

      Identifiant de notice d'autorité

      Identifiant du service d'archives

      Stationers' Company Archive

      Règles et/ou conventions utilisées

      International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) 2nd edition - ICA 2004 ISBN 2-9521932-2-3

      Statut

      Révisé

      Niveau de détail

      Dates de production, de révision et de suppression

      Langue(s)

      • anglais

      Écriture(s)

      • latin

      Sources

      Rostenberg, Leona. “Robert Stephens, Messenger of the Press: An Episode in 17th-Century Censorship.” The Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America 49.2 (1955): 131–152. Web; Bühler, Curt F., et al. “Bibliographical Notes.” The Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America, vol. 50, no. 4, 1956, pp. 370–92. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/24299560. Accessed 30 June 2025.

      Notes de maintenance